Our Team
Our association links people committed to make the world a better place.
Gilbert Dechambenoit
is a Professor of Neurosurgery. Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of Nantes (France) with Honors. He is a holder of Diploma in anatomy, Neurology and Neurosurgery (Abidjan, Limoges & Paris) with a fellowship in paediatric and pituitary Neurosurgery. His interest is focused on minimally invasive spine surgery, the training of neurosurgeons in the world and particularly in Africa his continent of origin.
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He is concerned about the accessibility and equity to health and is holder of an Msc in Health Economics with honors. He co-founded the Department of Neurosurgery in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) and took charge of the neurosurgery pediatrics the children from the Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso (Terre des Hommes, NGO, Geneva)
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He is the author of several articles and communications and has directed reference books in neurosurgery including the “Manuel de neurochirurgie”, “Approaches for spinal surgery” and “Essentials in Neurosurgery Practice” (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies) He is the Honorary President of the PAANS (Pan African Association of Neuroscience), Past-Secretary General of the French College of Neurosurgery, member of the Education Committee of the WFNS, Honorary Editor in chief of the African Journal of Neurological Sciences and Member of the Editorial Board of several internationals journals.
Expert / Haute Autorité de la Santé / High Authority of Health (Paris), Member of the Education Committee of the World Federation of Neurological Societies, Member of the Africa100 Committee dedicated to give 100 scholarships for training in neurosurgery.
Swaady Martin
is one of Africa’s most recognized young leader, influencer and tastemaker. She is a former Corporate Executive at the Fortune 500 company GE (General Electric). She is a multi-award winning entrepreneur, founder of one of Africa’s most admired brand, YSWARA African tea company.
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A Consciousness activist, she founded Tounché Global Consciousness Summit & Events and LovingKindness Boma, an independent publishing house creating conscious books for children with diverse main characters.
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Swaady is an alumna of the Harvard Divinity School, NYU Stern, The London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), HEC Paris Business School and HEC Lausanne. She’s an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow , a certified Yoga & Mindfulness teacher and a certified Pranic Healer.
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Profiled extensively in the media, she has been featured on several magazine covers, received numerous recognitions including the Forbes and Oprah Winfrey O Power lists for Africa. She is also a Board Member of the African Leadership Institute (AFLI) and a founding member of Facebook’s Group Global Initiative ‘The Boost Leaders Network’.
Yolande Hyjazi
is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Conakry. Currently, she is Jhpiego/Guinea Country Director and CoP for the bilateral project HSD in Guinea and President of the Scientific Council of RESPONSE to COVID – 19 (CSR). Prof. Y. Hyjazi has dedicated her career of more than 40 years to improving the quality and availability of Reproductive Health services including Family Planning with a particular focus on training, curriculum development and improving the quality of services. Prof. Hyjazi has been instrumental in building institutional and human capacity to improve women’s health care across Guinea through the development and mentoring of a national cadre of RH trainers and site strengthening.
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Prof. Hyjazi has a unique understanding of the health care situation in Guinea and is well known for the leadership she brings to any initiative, which designates her as a catalyst for change. These immeasurable characteristics, combined with her technical expertise, experience and education, give Professor Hyjazi a particular set of qualifications to implement his training activities at the University of Conakry, project managers and research.
Jacqueline Sultan
holds a doctorate in dental surgery (Paris – France) She is a founding member and vice-president of the African Dental Federation. As part of the Dr TOKTEN project (Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriates Nationals – UNDP), she participated in the capacity building of dental surgeons at the University of Conakry (Guinea). In Liberia, she was Senior Consultant in Dental Surgery at JFK Hospital in Monrovia (Liberia) and looked after dental surgery emergencies at Saint-Joseph Hospital.
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The managerial qualities of Dr J SULTAN led her to be General Manager of the company INVERSORA which supervised the activities of the Guinean mineral water company, the Kankan fruit juice factory and the hydroelectric project of Kogbèdou (Kankan region).
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Her commitment to the social well-being of the populations, and his skills made him assume the responsibilities of Director General of the National Agency for Agricultural Development and Food Security of Guinea. Advisor to the President of the Republic of Guinea for sustainable development issues, Dr J SULTAN was then appointed Minister of Agriculture (2014 – 2017)
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Member of the National Confederation of Guinea Breeders, and Vice-President of the Regional Livestock Observatory for West and Central Africa, Dr Jacqueline SULTAN continues to actively invest in rural development with the creation of an agro-pastoral farm in Guinea.
Henriette DUPARC
had a long Banking career. She is an administrator for cinematographic productions, in particular those of moviemaker Henri DUPARC and consultant for audiovisual productions in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Fabou Koulibaly
holds a master’s and a master’s degree in African history. He is a doctoral student at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne. Lecturer-researcher at Julius Nyerere University in Kankan, Fabou Koulibaly has extensive experience in the media, especially radio journalism. He was successively chief program editor and then director of the private radio station Horizon FM in Kankan. In 2016, he won a health journalism award in a competition organized by Canal France International (CFI), and subsequently hosted several health magazines.
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He is also an actor in civil society and is in charge of communication in Kankan, the National Council of Guinean Civil Society Organizations (CNOSCG) one of the largest platforms in Guinea, Since December 2018, he is the director of the Museum from Camp Soundjata Kéita in Kankan.
Nounkoumba Sano
welcomes and supports children in their educational development in Montpelleir (France) Graduated in sociologist specializing in communication for humanitarian organizations, she also holds a 3rd cycle university diploma in health, solidarity, precariousness (University Montpellier 1). Committed to humanitarian aid, N. SANO carried out a study of the Algerian Red Crescent's communication strategy and carried out surveys on the quality of medical care for populations exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the context of health facilities in the Kankan region (Guinea). A volunteer at Medecin du Monde (Montpellier), she is involved in welcoming and informing people in precarious situations.
Berri Joëlle KONÉ
is an ’Institut de Mathématiques Appliquées de l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest d’Angers (France) and the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers de Paris (France) alumni. She has a Masters in Engineering Mathematics, specializing in Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, as well as a Certification in Corporate Finance.
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Very early on, in elementary school, she was touched by the issues of precariousness and human dignity. She began to help organizations such as Caritas and the Raoul Follereau Foundation. She then got involved in organizing forums on education and school guidance in high schools in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) through the Association Les 3P, created with a group of friends. In Paris, she actively participated in real estate fit-out projects to accommodate young migrants while also providing them with French and literacy courses.
Berri is currently working in the insurance industry where she is a consultant on actuarial issues of technical inventories and statistical risk modeling.
Dofan Aziz KONÉ
After completing high school in Cote-d’Ivoire, Dofan A. Koné joined the African Leadership Academy (ALA), Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Post ALA, Dofan completed his undergraduate degree at Morehouse College and obtained a masters from the University of Iowa; both degrees in Accounting. His professional career started as an investment banker at Barclays. Dofan is also a Certified Public Accountant.
His passion includes soccer (playing and watching), traveling, cooking, and hiking. Dofan’s involvement with the youth is manifested through mentoring, teaching, and offering personal development sessions during webinars or at conferences for the youth.